Proton Inspira Super Premium launched – RM102,000

Alongside its recently-introduced SV (Super Value) budget line-up, it looks like Proton is also building up a new upscale Super Premium range. This new Proton Inspira Super Premium has just been unveiled at the Proton Sales Carnival in Juru Auto-City (Penang), joining the Suprima S Super Premium that debuted last week.

Claimed to cater to customers “who give priority to car specifications,” the new model – available exclusively in Solid White – slots in at the very top of Proton’s model range, priced at RM102,000. That’s a fair bit more than the current Inspira 2.0P, which goes for RM92,450.

What you do get as part of the Super Premium package are 18-inch lightweight R3 wheels and a complete set of R3 bodykit that includes a front splitter, side skirts, rear apron and boot spoiler. Completing the Super Premium makeover are R3 sport springs and R3 “Blood Stripe Stickers.”

Until now, these R3 bits and bobs have been exclusive to the limited-edition 1.8 manual-only Proton Inspira R3. This new model is built on the existing 2.0P model, though, and has a 2.0 litre engine with 150 hp and 197 Nm of torque. Performance through its standard CVT transmission is as such: 0-100 km/h in 10.5 seconds, 198 km/h top speed.

Equipment wise, the Inspira Super Premium is no different than the 2.0P model. A touchscreen multimedia head unit with built-in GPS, automatic lights and wipers, leather upholstery, paddle shifters and cruise control are all fitted as standard. Airbag count also stays at just two, however, with no sign of any stability control systems.

The Proton Inspira Super Premium is covered by a three-year/100,000 km warranty, which, interestingly, is more comprehensive than that offered on the just-launched Satria Neo Standard 4AT (two-year/50,000 km coverage).

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

Proton already so susah want to sell their lower range cars. If not for MITI protecting Proton, nobody will even smell Proton. And now, they come up with car costing RM100,000 and above?

It is solely because of Proton our household debt is one of the highest in the world. It is because of Proton that all cars in Malaysia went up in prices since the 90s. In the 90s, you could even buy a brand new Japanese car for RM20,000.

Global prices of cars have not really gone up. Infact, because of economies of scale and technology, car prices globally has actually come down the past 25 years. That is why you can get a top spec Honda Accord 2.4 or Toyota Camry 2.5 for about USD$22,000 (RM65,000)in the US. Mind you, at that price also, the US government already collected taxes and the Honda and Toyota dealership in the US already made their profit and margins. So, in Malaysia for example, UMW and Honda Malaysia probably get their Accord and Camry for less than RM50,000 each. CKD somemore, it becomes even cheaper than that!

It is because to protect Proton that the government started jacking up the taxes and duties of ALL cars. They pretend to tax ALL cars which include Proton but we all know lah what really goes on. Proton gets special treatment. Even now, Proton in private hands also, they get hundreds of million free money from the government as grants every year, Our tax payers money.

Even every single car in Malaysia cannot sell below Proton price. All car manufacturers must go through MITI before they can sell the car and it is MITI that decides on the final price.

UMW and Honda want to sell their Altis and Civic for RM80,000 also, they are strictly told they cannot do so. “You must sell your car at RM110,000 and above,”. That is the reply they get or else, completely no approval to sell their car. If don’t comply, your whole licence will be taken away and completely no APs will be given to you. That is why Mercedes and BMW also so scared. They want to sell cheaper but are threatened that they will be given lesser APs to bring their CKD panels and engines in to form CKD cars.

And it is because of Proton that we have lost hundreds of thousands of jobs. Before Thailand became the Autocity of Asia, Malaysia was the King of CKD and we were on our way to become the Autocity of Asia and even the Autocity of the world. in the 80s and 90s, everybody was CKDing in Malaysia. But because of the nonsense by MITI and Proton, all the car companies decided to go to Thailand.

We lost not only hundreds of thousands of jobs, we also lost hundreds of billions of USD in investments in Malaysia. Maybe even trillions.

All because to protect Proton and the few AP cronies.

Which do you think is better? Save Proton and its crony vendors 30,000 jobs but lose hundreds of thousands of jobs and hundreds of billions in investment that could have gone to schools and hospitals, transport etc?

With all this sufferings all Malaysians have gone, Proton now wants to come out with a car costing more than 100k!!

Red Army huh? Havn’t you just read the NAP thingy that all foreign car producers must negotiate the term of how much duty (incentives) is to be paid?
Come on-lah duty should be fix rate for all manufacturers.

i guess this gov and MITI policy to protect PROTON also unfair to PROTON and it’s R&D dept. PROTON engineering team might be compete with other carmakers in healthy way. They might be can produce high technology and quality cars if they were put in the real situation competition without the advantage. Many managerial level at PROTON also might be among the cronies that blocked PROTON to develop with car minded engineer and personnel.

This product can be considered as luxury. You have figures and your facts and some ambiguous statement. I can tell that you are an educated person yet for economies of scale, you have to study about this. No doubt that technology enhancement can reduce the price of a product, maybe you can learn about 6 sigma too, but at the same time this will reduce the usage of manpower. If you are working in a factory, u know about machinery. If you are working in a bank, you know about automation. These reduce FTEs. The other country provides cheaper human resource, business wise this is logic, globalisation in effect. Comparing the 90’s, time value of money.

You are making your point out of your own angst and weakness. Do not buy this car if you cant afford. A car is just a medium of transportation, a depreciation asset. I agree that the price is not worth it but we do have options, dont we?

This product can be considered as luxury. You have figures and your facts and some ambiguous statement. I can tell that you are an educated person yet for economies of scale, you have to study about this. No doubt that technology enhancement can reduce the price of a product, maybe you can learn about 6 sigma too, but at the same time this will reduce the usage of manpower. If you are working in a factory, u know about machinery. If you are working in a bank, you know about automation. These reduce FTEs. The other country provides cheaper human resource, business wise this is logic, globalisation in effect. Comparing the 90′s, time value of money.
You are making your point out of your own angst and weakness. Do not buy this car if you cant afford. A car is just a medium of transportation, a depreciation asset. I agree that the price is not worth it but we do have options, dont we?

Next week, you will see Proton Saga Super Premium.
Next next week, Proton Preve Super Premium.
Next next next week, Proton Pesona Super Premium.
Next x N weeks, whole line up of Proton has Super Premium trim.

Sooner or later, there will be a Super Premium Proton showroom somewhere for those Super Premium Fetish…

Next Next Next Next Next week, Proton will be launching the much anticipated, Proton Suprima S++ Super Duper Geng Premium!! The car will feature even more “racing fire” strips sticker to add 20HP! Not forgetting, an R3 logo that will also add another 20HP! And last but not least, the new model will feature intelligently designed R3 body kit to “smoothen” air flow to reduce drag because Proton has extremely great R&D facilities to test these sort of tests out! Oh yes, The R3 body kit will also add 50 more Horse Power!!

the Proton Suprima S++ Super Duper Geng Premium will be much lighter than before! VSC will be removed for sportier driving dynamics and also contributes to lighter total kerb weight of the car. Airbag count will be down to 1, Driver’s airbag only because the car will be driver oriented and it also makes the car much lighter.

Proton Inspira 2.0 is a fun car to drive, powerful and the handling is good as well. However is not really bang for bucks to spend 102k for Proton, anyway i bought second hand last year for 60K from my uncle’s friend. It is really nice car to drive i would say.

pulok dah….why proton always make us laughing to this ‘premium’??…come on la proton…please do brilliant strategy which can raise up ur sales not by increase the amount. better proton just stay focus on GSC till released then u can do another promotion or whatever

Although I understand that Proton wishes to give customers more options, I feel it’s quite pointless if they focus on expensive variants of existing models like this ‘Super Premium’ because very few will actually buy them. The ‘Super Value’ options are much, much more successful in terms of sales. Right now, increasing sales should be Proton’s biggest priority.

The just released sales figure by MAA already proved somewhat that the consumer are tightening their budget on cars, Perodua offering proved that the majority of the consumer wants a car that fits their budget not only in purchased price but also maintenance and the lowering of the price in the Jazz CKD and also introduction of thye lower range Kia Rio and Picanto also contributed to their sales riising.

Proton should sort their priorities, I do applaude their SV move but this Super Premium range has to stop, no one will think twice of paying over a RM100k for a Proton when a)theres the better spec Preve and b)theres the Cerato and other Japanese cars near that price.

I agree. The timing is not right. The Inspira is also quite outdated, compared to the Prevé, it’s a lot less value for money. I hardly see many WX and WY number plated Inspiras, shows that sales have gone down.

Oh well, hopefully Proton has more Super Value models coming. Also, I’m waiting for the Prevé / Suprima S 6-spd manual. :D THAT, would be one Proton I would genuinely WANT to own !

I just want a Prevé or Suprima with a 6-speed manual with the CFE engine…..and also complete spec
I generally will approve any manual car with its safety and accesory compliment similar with the top spec Auto; i.e Picanto, Swift Sport, CRZ, 208 GTi and Veloster.

What is wrong with proton. All these stupid super premium cars. This further shows their incompetent drb bosses with no brain or idea how to run the company. All left over CKD cars are sold like this to Rakyat. Another wrong move by proton and they just dug their grave hole deeper. This is not strategy it is stupidity.

Just what i expected what will happen when DRB took back proton..this is bullsh*t marketing strategy..we all know damn well ., to sell an old product, you add more value to it and retain/drop the original price..Bring back DSSZ!

This is really dumb. 2 reasons
1. Inspira aka Lancer is already ending its life cycle. shouldn’t you be reducing the price?
2. Everything is increasing in 2014 like utility bills, petrol,etc. Everyone is trying to keep their budget low and proton bumps the price up by 10k with cosmetic stuff?
Bad pricing and marketing strategy

Oh PROTON. You still think that “premium” means bodykits???
Please. Please spare the nation the embarrassment.
Can you please learn from the best, and not take locals for the sake of national pride?
No wonder the German dude from Audi did not renew his contract!

You must always remember one thing – Stupid people have more money and they always get smart people to earn more money for them.
1. Smart people buy things using calculator.
2. Stupid people buy things using money.

I think I understand what they trying to do with Super Premium line up. It just to test our market and public reception towards premium price of Proton. But the problem with their SP line up is, it doesn’t feel premium. The model receive SP treatment is mostly low volumes model. So, this is merely a test product.

Maybe you are right, but since DRB took over, Proton’s marketing strategy becomes worse. If they are testing the market, they can just display these cars for public viewing and gain feedback, without announcing for immediate sale. If the response is good, then they should consider selling.

Personally, I also find it as a bad move by DRB for Proton. I had high hopes for them, but these super premium is just a joke.

View and feedback does not have strong results. This kind of test is much better because they will know the exact result because people really put their money on it and not just opinion. And this marketing also not expensive because Proton just making existing models with some top up. However, I really hope Proton just want to test market, if not, I really do not know how they think this kind of strategy will be successful.

many of us will bach the add price. but i do agree with that kind of price.

i believe light weight 18″ rim cos you around RM4K, RM2K for tyre. bodykit with out colour paint around RM2K, plus the manpower to install and colour the body kit cost you another RM2K. total is RM10K

but must remember that the standard sport rim that come from proton should be deduct as we dont get to keep it. i might say that cost deduction is RM1.5K for standard sport rim. plus standard tyre RM500

so proton maybe should only add another RM8K for this super premium inspira.

by the way, why proton use name of super value, super premium? look so like beras brand. super special tempatan 5% beras hancur.

Bro..the rim is not even an original BBS set la aiyooo…dat kind of rim cost only around 1.5k maaa….taiwan ciplak one la hahaha…really kangkung la you…ppl like u la make proton think they can con the rakyat..so gullible…naik harga also think its good ka…

Preve that scored brilliantly on the ANCAP safety rating honestly DID impress me. So is the weird, gigantic rear which always made me stare at it whenever I see one on the road.

The Suprima was a ‘good’ attempt simply because Proton was daring enough to make a hatchback variant of it, but why?….WHY did you have to try and ->Malayificationize<- the damn car by naming it Suprima. It is as if you guys don't even believe in your own Preve product.

The Saga SV was honestly a good move. Catering to the lower income to have an alternative option of a base car instead of being forced to settle with the Viva.

THIS TWO VARIANT HOWEVER, what on earth is going on in the management!? Just because UMW Toyota and Suzuki decides to be idiots with their bodykit bolt-on sales doesn't mean you guys should've done the same!

I have used an Inspira Premium for 2 years and it’s much better than my Lancer, which has worse NVH, tends to oversteer on hard cornering (poor damping rate or meloncat loncat), and have poor CVT cooler airflow (frequent overheat on continuous highrevs).

Kudos to Proton for improvements to the Lancer and more kits for lower price. Really value for money.

Obviously your so call lancer is wira conversion or those yr2k model la. All GT owner know the car has 18 inch and stiffer suspension than the EX model. The ori Yoko A10 is very noisy type. Mitsu already improved the CVT cooler after facelifted model. If owner want comfort model, they can opt EX.

why cant some of you see the ad or a new and just keep it to yourself…the ones complaint a lot cant afford a lancer..still buy and inspira and convert to lancer…buy wira convert lancer…buy the car terus lah for what convert?…who want to buy ..buy lah..who dont one ..diam saja. no one force you to buy malaysian car ma…!!!

also visit the perodua showroom this week to get some view on new alza…the salesman also told that alza price was not finalized by gov coz involved some excise issue with custom…but soo there will a little adjustment either customer can get some refund or have to top up some more

haiyo. LANCER GT RIM much more nicer.
Why don’t you just copy that rim. don’t suit that car well. BMW car la use that rim, this design a NO NO.

Proton. If you really want to make super premium, design a new rear and headlamp, like BMW, Kia Rio style. Fit it with LED, put more minimalist but luxury look to the front and rear bumper. maybe xenon light, more airbag, reverse camera, etc etc.

This is CRAP. Not intended to bash Proton but they are full of people who doesnt go to see world outside. This car totally looks like ‘KERETA TERPAKAI SUDAH MODIFIED’ car rather than premium new car.

You don’t understand. The average Malaysians have ahbeng mentality always screams “tak lawa! Nak bodykits!”. Doesn’t matter if they have stupid specs or ridiculous price. Proven with the sales of Vios TRD.

All these stupid Super Premium variants are made to meet those ahbeng desires and certainly not for us. Don’t worry.

Proton already did a very good job on value of money in SV cars, Preve CFE and Suprima S.
What’s wrong with Proton to try enter this bizarre market segment? lol.

even those supporter who bought proton before also all upgrade to japanese car… the cheapest toyota avanza also die die they wan to buy just to avoid proton lousy quality and after sales service… nowadays who so stupid go buy proton… i see more people mod their viva than saga… just close la plotong

menteri kata, kalau tak puas boleh pergi negara lain. so saya pun pergi negara lain cari makan.
apa nak buat, nak enjoy driving (one of my passion) so i went to work overseas.
so far no regrets, my toyota 86 cost only rm78k and my focus st cost only rm77k. both great driving cars but cost less than this proton
salary here also higher.
Govt only thinking of makan rakyat, terpaksa cabut.
but no matter what i still love the Country and people. I am proud to be Malaysian but really think we have selfish and stupid govt.

How that Malaysians are fond of accessories and gadgets over safety equipment (ESC, TRC, airbags,LDW, BSM etc) while safety is most paramount aspect in a vehicle?? Thats why people buy cars over RM100k that still comes with 2 airbags (only??) and no ESP/TRC.. Tell that to Perodua and UMW Toyota also… As a conclusion, this car is bloody overpriced..

So sad news…proton..and drb..wrong marketing solotion……how you will competitioncompetition with new korean and Japanese and german cars in these days…? Wakeup proton before breakdown…!!!! Lets tax free or going to lower level…to people fill more free dome and real competition started…..if proton can competition why not all nation and people ofcurs they like to buy cars which belong to their own country…if they will have quality new facility and safetysafety..in resonable price..

Maybe the idea is since toyota n honda n their ful spec selling around rm13xk n ppl r wiling to pay,thn the inspira with rm30k difference should b able to find new homes as well…nt counting da focus 2.0 n cerato 2.0 bcos thy hv a very small market share…besides,we all kno its a lancer so its even more value …bt the std inspira can b had for rm8xk is even beter value

you can get brand new Mercedes CLA class just below USD30000 in USA.But once CLA launched in Malaysia, price has to times 10 = RM300000, at least.
USA people earn USD 3k, BUT do we earn RM30k here??? Per month

Day in – day out, month in – month out, year in – year out, we always talk, discuss, analysis about what should the government do, what should MITI do, what should MAI do and what should bank do to reduce the car price….

Its always about what others should do, to make sure the car price drop to a more reasonable level (don’t need 9 years loan, more suitable around 5 years loan and the less the better)… but 20 – 30 years of time should be enough to tell us that they wont do anything to our benefit, its always about what manufactures get, what AP king get, what OEM supplier get, so what about us, the biggest stakeholder, the customer …

It is us that send the wrong message to gov, car manufacturers, AP kings… when the price increase every facelift, we are the ones that queue to book the car and some do book the car for 9 years long even before the launch of the car…

Let talk about, as customer, what should we do? regardless what policy maker, gov agency and companies want to say. Personally, I will maintain my current ride (which is second hand) and refuse to buy any new cars, I repeat any new car, not just proton and perodua. I will also convince my children, my friends, my family, my boss, my office mates so that they they will not be buying either… and justify it by ridiculous price or cars in Malaysia. They (gov, AP king, PerKema, manufactures) can say a lot of thing, but if we are not buying, what the are saying is irrelevant.

If u still need a car, buy a second hand car, since the taxes have been paid by the previous customer. I know it might be difficult to get a good second hand car, but we need to show a strong message that we are the boss, the biggest stakeholder. And this is also the benefit for our children and grand-children.

If we do this and play our part, we will gain mass and trust me they will be oversupply and surely price will drop…
So come on guy, play our part and don’t hope others to do this, we need to do this ourselves…

If we work together, we can win this…
When the buying stop, the killing can too…

This inspira is to cater to customers that give priority to car specifications….
it’s still the same spec as the 2.0P…just given a bodykit and new rim…..that’s it….guess in proton vocabulary….car specs mean bodykit and wheel and stickers

I heard a news report that proton asked for a government R & D grant exceeding Rm 500 million.Again,RAKYAT DIDAHULUKAN?No, they are misusing tax dollars the rakyat paid for excise,import and sales tax when they buy cars.
After a quarter of a century,proton still ask for GRANTS?What a shame.No wonder it is coming up with extra accessories to beautify the cars which can’t compete with other marques.

i understand the strategy for super value but i seriously cannot brain this super premium. when i think of super premium i think of more premium stuff added in i dunno what else is premium you can add in to inspira (ESP/6 airbag/AFS) but bodykit is not really premium at all if you got throw in R3 body kits you should just call this super sport instead and then again 102k people would just get a 92k premium spec inspira and mod the bodykit themselve which cost alot less

When the car market is monopoly by thr selected few cronies, do u think u will get the price reduced? Do u think the ppl will be better off? After all, the gov is giving the real rich elites more and more while reclassified the middle class as rich ppl and tax them like hell. Now the working class is deemed middle class is also taxed like hell. The lower class is only compensate with br1m. All for reduce gov deficits. What did gov done on their iwn spending to reduce deficits a part from their superficial 10 points crap… real issue such as corruptions, AG findings, close tenders, APs, etc etc… none!

Reduced car price is just a dream. With the way our gov goes, we are heading into the same crap as US with escalating debt, lowering buying power and our children and grand children that will suffer most.

Proton missed the most important thing here…manual gearbox! A 4B11 engine with a stick shift will be a very fast car..All these skirtings..rims..etc..are nice..but no substance! Do something to make the car go faster..

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